Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 87365 

Department of the Interior has 

determined the final supplementary rule 

will not cause a ‘‘taking’’ of private 

property or require preparation of a 

takings assessment under this Executive 

order. 

Executive Order 13132, Federalism 

The final supplementary rule will not 

have a substantial direct effect on the 

States; the relationship between the 

Federal Government and the States; nor 

the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. The final 

supplementary rule does not conflict 

with any State law or regulation. 

Therefore, in accordance with Executive 

Order 13132, the BLM has determined 

the supplementary rule does not have 

sufficient federalism implications to 

warrant preparation of a Federalism 

Assessment. 

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice 

Reform 

Under Executive Order 12988, the 

Department of the Interior Office of the 

Solicitor has determined the final 

supplementary rule will not unduly 

burden the judicial system and that it 

meets the requirements of sections 3(a) 

and 3(b)(2) of the order. 

Executive Order 13175, Consultation 

and Coordination With Tribal 

Governments 

In accordance with Executive Order 

13175, the BLM considered consultation 

and coordination with Tribal 

governments in the development of the 

EA, which forms the basis for the final 

supplementary rule. It was determined 

the EA’s proposed action did not have 

Tribal implications and formal 

consultation was not conducted. 

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use 

Under Executive Order 13211, the 

BLM has determined the final 

supplementary rule will not comprise a 

significant energy action and that it will 

not have an adverse effect on energy 

supplies, production, or consumption. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

The final supplementary rule does not 

contain information collection 

requirements that the Office of 

Management and Budget must approve 

under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Federal 

criminal investigations or prosecutions 

may result from this rule, and the 

collection of information for these 

purposes is exempt from the Paperwork 

Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3518(c)(1). 

Authors 

The principal author of this final 

supplementary rule is Kathleen Stevens, 

outdoor recreation planner, Moab Field 

Office, Bureau of Land Management 

V. Final Supplementary Rule for the 

BLM Moab Field Office 

For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, and under the authority of 43 

U.S.C. 1740 and 43 CFR 8365.1–6, the 

Utah State Director establishes the 

following supplementary rule: 

1. Roped and aerial activities are 

prohibited within the Moab Canyons 

Special Wildlife Area, except for 

permitted rock climbing. 

2. All persons must be in possession 

of a permit to engage in rock climbing 

within the Moab Canyons Special 

Wildlife Area. 

3. The construction or installation of 

temporary structures is prohibited 

within the Moab Canyons Special 

Wildlife Area. 

Definitions 

Roped Activities: Activities involving 

ropes, cable, vectran, rock climbing 

aids, webbing, anchors, or any other 

similar materials. Activities include: 

ziplining, high-lining, slacklining, ropeswinging, and other activities using the 

roped materials listed and other 

associated equipment. 

Aerial Activities: Sporting pursuits 

which include ‘‘buildings, antennae, 

spans, and earth’’ (BASE) jumping, 

catapulting, paragliding, paramotoring, 

parachuting, skydiving, drone 

launching, aerial delivery, or other 

activities that involve aerial delivery, 

recovery, or shuttle. 

Rock climbing: A sport or technique 

in which participants climb up, down, 

or across natural rock formations, 

usually with ropes and other 

equipment. This also includes freesoloing and bouldering. 

Penalties 

On public lands under section 303(a) 

of the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

1733(a)), and 43 CFR 8360.0–7, any 

person who violates this supplementary 

rule may be tried before a U.S. 

magistrate and fined no more than 

$1,000 or imprisoned for no more than 

12 months or both. Such violations may 

also be subject to enhanced fines 

provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571. 

Exemptions 

Any Federal, State, local, or military 

persons acting within the scope of their 

duties, and members of an organized 

rescue or firefighting force in 

performance of an official duty, are 

exempted from this supplementary rule. 

Gregory Sheehan, 

State Director. 

[FR Doc. 2023–27746 Filed 12–15–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4331–25–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 622 

[Docket No. 231212–0300] 

RIN 0648–BM73 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish 

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Greater 

Amberjack Emergency Management 

Measures 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final temporary rule; emergency 

action. 

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final 

temporary rule to promulgate 

emergency measures, due to recently 

discovered circumstances that present 

serious conservation issues for the 

greater amberjack stock in the Gulf of 

Mexico (Gulf). As requested by the Gulf 

of Mexico Fishery Management Council 

(Council), NMFS issues this final 

temporary rule to reduce the Gulf 

greater amberjack commercial trip limit. 

The final temporary rule will be 

effective for 180 days unless superseded 

by subsequent rulemaking. The purpose 

of this emergency action is to decrease 

the likelihood of exceeding the 

commercial catch limits and extend the 

2024 commercial fishing season. 

DATES: This temporary rule is effective 

January 1, 2024, through June 15, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the 

documents in support of this final 

temporary rule for emergency action, 

which includes the Council’s letter to 

NMFS requesting the emergency action 

may be obtained from the Southeast 

Regional Office website at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ 

emergency-rule-implement-reducedcommercial-trip-limits-gulf-mexicogreater-amberjack. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

Luers, telephone: 727–824–5305, or 

email: Daniel.Luers@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef 

fish fishery of the Gulf is managed 

under the Fishery Management Plan for 


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87366 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared 

by the Council and approved and 

implemented by NMFS through 

regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the 

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Section 

305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 

provides the legal authority for the 

promulgation of emergency regulations 

(16 U.S.C. 1855(c)). 

Background 

The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires 

NMFS and regional fishery management 

councils to prevent overfishing and 

achieve, on a continuing basis, the 

optimum yield from federally managed 

fish stocks. These mandates are 

intended to ensure fishery resources are 

managed for the greatest overall benefit 

to the nation, particularly with respect 

to providing food production and 

recreational opportunities, and 

protecting marine ecosystems. 

Gulf greater amberjack has been under 

a rebuilding plan since 2003 (68 FR 

39898, July 3, 2003). However, the stock 

has not rebuilt as expected and NMFS 

has implemented several revisions to 

the rebuilding plan. The most recent 

revision occurred in response to the 

Southeast Data, Assessment, and 

Review (SEDAR) 70 assessment for Gulf 

greater amberjack, which was completed 

in November 2020 and indicated that 

the Gulf greater amberjack stock 

continued to be overfished and 

undergoing overfishing, but could 

rebuild by end of the current rebuilding 

time (2027) with reduced yields. 

Therefore, the Council developed and 

NMFS approved and implemented 

Amendment 54 to the FMP, which 

substantially reduced the Gulf greater 

amberjack catch limits. NMFS 

published the final rule reducing the 

catch limits on June 15, 2023 (88 FR 

39193). On June 18, 2023, NMFS 

prohibited further commercial harvest 

for the 2023 fishing year because 

commercial landings had exceeded the 

reduced commercial annual catch target 

(ACT) and annual catch limit (ACL), 

which are 93,930 lb (42,606 kg), round 

weight, and 101,000 lb (45,813 kg), 

round weight, respectively (88 FR 

40121, June 21, 2023). 

The Gulf greater amberjack 

commercial accountability measures 

(AMs) require a closure of the sector 

when commercial landings reach or are 

projected to reach the commercial ACT 

(commercial quota) (50 CFR 

622.41(a)(1)). In addition, if commercial 

landings exceed the commercial ACL, 

NMFS is required to reduce both the 

commercial ACL and the commercial 

ACT for Gulf greater amberjack in the 

year following an overage of the 

commercial ACL, by the amount of any 

commercial ACL overage (50 CFR 

622.41(a)(1)(ii)). Because 2023 

commercial landings exceeded the 

newly implemented commercial ACL, 

NMFS reduced the commercial ACL and 

ACT for the 2024 fishing year, by the 

amount of the 2023 commercial ACL 

overage (88 FR 80995, November 21, 

2023), which was 35,280 lb (16,003 kg), 

round weight. 

At its October 2023 meeting, the 

Council approved a framework action to 

modify the Gulf greater amberjack 

recreational fixed closed season and the 

commercial trip limit (Framework 

Action). Within the Framework Action, 

the Council recommended reducing the 

current commercial trip limit to 7 fish 

as a result of the substantial catch limit 

reductions implemented with 

Amendment 54 in order to extend the 

commercial fishing season. As described 

in the Framework Action, a trip limit of 

7 fish is approximately equal to 210 lb 

(95 kg), gutted weight; 218 lb (99 kg), 

round weight. The current commercial 

trip limit for Gulf greater amberjack is 

1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight; 1,040 

lb (474 kg), round weight, until 75 

percent of the commercial quota 

(commercial ACT) is reached. After 75 

percent of the commercial quota is 

reached or projected to be reached, the 

trip limit is reduced to 250 lb (113 kg), 

gutted weight; 260 lb (118 kg), round 

weight. 

The 2024 commercial fishing season 

opens on January 1 and with the current 

trip limit, NMFS projects that 

commercial landings would reach the 

reduced commercial ACT in early 

February, requiring a closure for the 

remainder of the year. If the 7-fish trip 

limit were in place by January 1, 2024, 

NMFS projects the commercial fishing 

season would be open through the end 

of February when a 3-month seasonal 

closure begins, and re-open for part of 

June when the season reopens June 1. 

Council Emergency Action Request 

At its October 2023 meeting, the 

Council discussed concerns raised by its 

Reef Fish Advisory Panel about the 

impact of the required reduction to the 

2024 commercial catch limits as a result 

of landings exceeding the ACL in 2023. 

The Council expressed concern about 

NMFS’ ability to constrain landings to 

the reduced catch limits when the 

commercial season opens in January 

and the potential for additional 

commercial overages in 2024 further 

reducing harvest for 2025. The reduced 

commercial trip limit in the Framework 

Action, if implemented, would not be 

effective until spring of 2024. Therefore, 

the Council requested that NMFS 

implement an emergency action to 

reduce the Gulf greater amberjack 

commercial trip limit to 7 fish effective 

January 1, 2024. The Council and NMFS 

expect this lower trip limit to benefit the 

greater amberjack stock by increasing 

the duration of the open season, which 

is expected to result in fewer regulatory 

discards (i.e., discards required after the 

quota has been reached). The reduced 

trip limit is also expected to shift the 

commercial greater amberjack harvest to 

an incidental catch only fishery for 

fishermen who currently target Gulf 

greater amberjack commercially under a 

higher trip limit, reducing the 

likelihood of race-to-fish (derby) fishing, 

which will allow NMFS to better 

determine when the commercial ACT 

will be reached and prohibit further 

harvest during the fishing year. 

Criteria and Justification for Emergency 

Action 

NMFS’ Policy Guidelines for the Use 

of Emergency Rules (62 FR 44421, 

August 21, 1997) list three criteria for 

determining whether an emergency 

exists. Specifically, NMFS’ policy 

guidelines require that an emergency: 

‘‘(1) Result from recent, unforeseen 

events or recently discovered 

circumstances; and (2) Present serious 

conservation or management problems 

in the fishery; and (3) Can be addressed 

through emergency regulations for 

which the immediate benefits outweigh 

the value of advance notice, public 

comment, and deliberative 

consideration of the impacts on 

participants to the same extent as would 

be expected under the normal 

rulemaking process.’’ NMFS issues this 

emergency action in compliance with 

these guidelines to prevent serious 

conservation issues to the stock that 

would increase the probability of not 

meeting the rebuilding timeline of 2027. 

With respect to the first criterion, the 

recently discovered circumstance is the 

extent of the overage of the commercial 

ACL in 2023 and the impact the 

required commercial ACT overage 

adjustment (payback) will have on the 

2024 season. The Gulf greater amberjack 

stock has been under a rebuilding plan 

since 2003. The recent change to the 

rebuilding plan in Amendment 54 was 

implemented in June 2023 and resulted 

in a significant reduction in the catch 

limits. This reduction caused the 

commercial ACL to be exceeded earlier 

in the 2023 fishing year, thus requiring 

a commercial ACL and ACT payback 

and lower commercial catch levels in 

2024. At the time of the Council’s 

request for the emergency action, it 


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 87367 

appeared that the required reduction in 

the commercial catch limits would 

result in a 2024 commercial season as 

short as 2 weeks. After further review, 

NMFS determined that if no change 

were made to the trip limit, the 

commercial season would likely close at 

the end of January or beginning of 

February. However, there is substantial 

uncertainty in the projections because it 

is unclear whether the shorter season 

will induce fishermen to increase effort. 

NMFS expects the reduced trip limit 

implemented though the emergency 

action to slow harvest by lowering the 

financial incentive to target greater 

amberjack and engage in derby fishing, 

and increase the length of the 2024 

commercial fishing season by 4–5 

weeks. In combination with the fixed 

seasonal closure, which occurs March 

through May, commercial fishing could 

occur from January through February 

and then into June. 

The second criterion, which requires 

a serious conservation or management 

problem in the fishery, is satisfied 

because the uncertainty associated with 

projecting when to close fishing under 

the current trip limit increases the 

likelihood of exceeding the reduced 

ACT and ACL, which were required to 

account for the excess commercial 

harvest in 2023. The Gulf greater 

amberjack stock has been overfished 

since the first assessment in 2000 and 

various plans that have been 

implemented to rebuild the stock have 

not been successful. Amendment 54 

significantly reduced catch levels to 

rebuild the stock by the end of the 

current rebuilding period in 2027. 

Harvest in excess of these catch limits 

increases the probability of not meeting 

the established rebuilding time. NMFS 

expects the reduced commercial trip 

limit to eliminate trips targeting greater 

amberjack because those trips would be 

economically infeasible. This will 

discourage derby fishing and increase 

the length of the fishing season, which 

would decrease regulatory discards and 

allow NMFS more time to determine 

when to prohibit further harvest in 2024 

so as to not exceed the catch limits. 

To address the third criterion, NMFS 

has determined that because the next 

commercial fishing season opens 

January 1, 2024, the immediate benefits 

of reducing the trip limit through an 

emergency action outweigh the value of 

advance notice and public comment. By 

foregoing the notice and comment 

rulemaking, this emergency action will 

be able to fulfill its intent by slowing 

commercial harvest, eliminating the 

incentive to engage in derby fishing, 

which can result in unsafe fishing 

conditions, and reducing the likelihood 

of exceeding the reduced catch limits. 

Emergency Measures 

This final temporary rule revises the 

commercial trip limit for Gulf greater 

amberjack. It reduces the Gulf greater 

amberjack commercial trip limit to 7 

fish from the current trip limit of 1,000 

lb (454 kg), gutted weight, 1,040 lb (472 

kg), round weight, with a step down in 

the trip limit to 250 lb (113 kg), gutted 

weight, 260 lb (118 kg), round weight, 

when 75 percent of the commercial ACT 

has been landed. The commercial trip 

limit will be effective for 180 days after 

publication in the Federal Register, as 

authorized by section 305(c) of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act, or until 

superseded by another Federal action. 

This temporary final rule for emergency 

action will not be extended because 

NMFS expects the commercial ACT to 

be reached and the 2024 commercial 

season to be closed prior to the 

expiration of this rule. If this temporary 

rule were to expire prior to the 

commercial closure, fishing that could 

occur until the quota was reached 

would be under the reduced limit 

(stepdown) of 250 lb (113 kg), gutted 

weight, per trip (equivalent of 

approximately 8 fish). Therefore, an 

extension of this temporary final rule 

will be unnecessary. 

Classification 

This action is issued pursuant to 

section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act, 16 U.S.C. 1855(c). The Assistant 

Administrator (AA) for Fisheries, NOAA 

has determined that this emergency 

action is consistent with the MagnusonStevens Act, the FMP, and other 

applicable law. This action is being 

taken pursuant to the emergency 

provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 

and is exempt from Office of 

Management and Budget review. 

The AA finds good cause to waive the 

requirements to provide prior notice 

and opportunity for public comment 

pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B). Providing prior notice 

and opportunity for public comment on 

this action would be contrary to the 

public interest. 

In June 2023, NMFS implemented 

Amendment 54, which significantly 

reduced the Gulf greater amberjack 

catch levels in order to rebuild the 

stock. Commercial landings exceeded 

the 2023 commercial ACL, requiring a 

reduction of the commercial ACT and 

ACL for the 2024 fishing year. In 

October 2023, the Council voted to 

request that NMFS implement this 

emergency action to reduce the 

commercial trip limit as of January 1, 

2024, consistent with its 

recommendation in the Framework 

Action approved at that same meeting. 

NMFS received the Council’s request for 

emergency action on November 3, 2023, 

and therefore could not have acted 

sooner. 

This change in the commercial trip 

limit requires immediate 

implementation. If NMFS were to 

provide prior notice and comment, 

NMFS would be unable to implement 

the change by January 1, 2024, which 

would increase the likelihood of 

exceeding the reduced catch limits that 

are necessary to rebuild the Gulf greater 

amberjack stock. 

Maintaining the current 1,000 lb (454 

kg), gutted weight, trip limit for the 

2024 fishing year may induce fishermen 

who still target Gulf greater amberjack to 

increase their rate of harvest when the 

commercial season opens on January 1, 

2024. This would increase the 

uncertainty for NMFS in projecting 

when to prohibit further commercial 

harvest and result in commercial 

landings in excess of the 2024 catch 

limits, which increases the probability 

of not meeting the established 

rebuilding time. The shorter open 

season that would occur under the 1,000 

lb (454 kg), gutted weight, trip limit, 

would also increase the number of days 

fishermen who incidentally catch Gulf 

greater amberjack must discard the fish. 

Therefore, the reduced commercial trip 

limit must be implemented immediately 

and prior notice and opportunity for 

public comment would be contrary to 

the public interest. 

The need to implement these 

measures immediately for the reasons 

stated above also constitutes good cause 

under authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 

553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in 

effectiveness of the rule. 

This final temporary rule for 

emergency action is exempt from the 

procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act because the rule is issued without 

opportunity for prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or other law. 

Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility 

analysis is required and none has been 

prepared. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622 

Commercial, Fisheries, Fishing 

season, Greater amberjack, Gulf of 

Mexico, Reef fish. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 


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87368 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

Dated: December 12, 2023. 

Samuel D. Rauch, III 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

For the reasons set out in the 

preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part 

622 as follows: 

PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE 

CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND 

SOUTH ATLANTIC 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 622 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

■ 2. In § 622.43: 

■ a. Suspend paragraphs (a)(1) and (2); 

and 

■ b. Add paragraph (a)(3). 

The addition reads as follows: 

§ 622.43 Commercial trip limits. 

* * * * * 

(a) * * * 

(3) Until the commercial quota 

specified in § 622.39(a)(1)(v) is 

reached—7 fish. See § 622.39(b) for the 

limitations regarding greater amberjack 

after the quota is reached. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2023–27714 Filed 12–15–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 648 

[Docket No. 230810–0190; RTID 0648– 

XD575] 

Fisheries of the Northeastern United 

States; Northeast Multispecies 

Fishery; Gulf of Maine Cod Trimester 

Total Allowable Catch Area Closure 

and Possession Limit Adjustments for 

the Common Pool Fishery 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; in-season 

possession limit adjustment and area 

closure. 

SUMMARY: This action prohibits 

possession of Gulf of Maine cod by 

common pool vessels through the end of 

fishing year. This action also closes the 

Gulf of Maine Cod Trimester Total 

Allowable Catch Area to Northeast 

multispecies common pool vessels 

fishing with trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, 

and longline/hook gear for Trimester 3 

of fishing year 2023. These actions are 

necessary because the common pool 

fishery is projected to have achieved the 

annual sub-annual catch limit and 

caught more than 90 percent of its 

Trimester 3 quota for Gulf of Maine cod. 

This action is intended to prevent 

overages of the common pool’s quota for 

this stock. 

DATES: The prohibition of cod 

possession by common pool vessels is 

effective December 15, 2023, through 

April 30, 2024. The closure of the Gulf 

of Maine Cod Trimester Total Allowable 

Catch Area is effective January 1, 2024, 

through April 30, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Spencer Talmage, Fishery Policy 

Analyst, (978) 281–9232. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

temporary rule immediately prohibits 

common pool vessel possession of Gulf 

of Maine (GOM) cod through the end of 

the fishing year on April 30, 2024, and 

closes the GOM Cod Trimester Total 

Allowable Catch (TAC) Area from 

January 1, 2024, through April 30, 2024. 

These actions are intended to prevent 

the common pool fishery from 

exceeding the common pool GOM cod 

Third Trimester TAC and common pool 

GOM cod annual sub-Annual Catch 

Limit (sub-ACL). 

Possession Prohibition for GOM Cod 

Recently available fishing year 2023 

catch information shows that as of 

November 28, 2023, the Northeast 

Multispecies Common Pool fishery has 

caught 100 percent of its 10.6-metric ton 

(mt) sub-ACL for GOM cod. Regulations 

at 50 CFR 648.86(o)(1) provide that the 

Regional Administrator may implement 

or adjust the Days-at-Sea (DAS) 

possession limit to prevent an 

exceedance of the sub-ACL. In addition, 

regulations at § 648.82(n)(2)(iii) require 

a deduction of an amount equal to an 

overage from the common pool’s subACL in the next fishing year. To prevent 

a common pool overage of its 2023 subACL for GOM cod, effective December 

15, 2023, the GOM cod possession and 

trip limits are decreased to 0 pounds (lb) 

(0 kilograms (kg)), and possession is 

prohibited for all common pool vessels 

(table 1). 

TABLE 1—NEW POSSESSION AND TRIP LIMITS FOR GOM COD

Permit type Current possession/trip limits New possession/trip limits 

Days-At-Sea (A DAS) ........ 50 lb (22.7 kg) per DAS, up to 100 lb (45.4 kg) per trip ................. 0 lb (0 kg) per trip; Possession Prohibited. 

Handgear A ........................ 50 lb (22.7 kg) per trip.

Handgear B ........................ 25 lb (11.3 kg) per trip.

Small Vessel Category ...... 150 lb (11.3 kg) per trip, within combined 300 lb (136.1 kg) trip 

limit for cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder.

Common pool groundfish vessels that 

have declared their trip through the 

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) or the 

interactive voice response system, and 

crossed the VMS demarcation line prior 

to December 15, 2023, are not subject to 

the new possession and trip limits for 

that trip. 

Weekly quota monitoring reports for 

the common pool fishery are on our 

website at: https://www.greateratlantic.

fisheries.noaa.gov/ro/fso/reports/h/ 

nemultispecies.html. We will continue 

to monitor common pool catch through 

vessel trip reports, dealer-reported 

landings, VMS catch reports, and other 

available information and, if necessary, 

will make additional adjustments to 

common pool management measures. 

Closure of the Gulf of Maine Cod 

Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area 

Federal regulations at 

§ 648.82(n)(2)(ii) require the Regional 

Administrator to close a common pool 

Trimester TAC Area for a stock when 90 

percent of the Trimester TAC is 

projected to be caught. Based on 

recently available catch information, 

common pool vessel catch is projected 

to exceed the GOM cod Trimester 3 TAC 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES